Some effects of sulphur intake on molybdenum metabolism in sheep. 1979

N D Grace, and N F Suttle

1. To investigate the effects of sulphur intake on molybdenum metabolism in sheep, ewes were given intakes of 0.3 or 3.5 mg Mo and 0.98, 1.33, 1.73 or 3.23 g S/d in a 2x4 factorial experiment with two replicates lasting 35 d. 99Mo with 0.1 mg carrier Mo was infused intravenously for the last 14 d and, when 99Mo concentrations in urine and faeces had attained plateaux (days 11-14), stable Mo and 99Mo balance trails were conducted; samples of blood and rumen contents were taken principally for studies of Mo distribution. 2. Increases in S intake caused the following changes in Mo metabolism; absorption decreased, urinary and faecal endogenous excretion decreased and retention increased; Mo concentrations in rumen contents decreased but the predominant association with the solid phase was unaffected; Mo concentrations in plasma decreased, but a higher proportion was associated with the protein fraction; Mo in protein-free plasma became apparently less ultrafiltrable at the glomerulus. 3. The pattern of response to S for each factor was generally curvilinear, the first increment in S intake having by far the greatest effect. The effect of S was generally greatest at the higher Mo intake. 4. It is suggested that the manifold effects of S on Mo metabolism are related to a common interaction in the rumen leading to the formation of Mo-complexes, possibly thiomolybdates, which are poorly absorbed but even more poorly excreted.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007408 Intestinal Absorption Uptake of substances through the lining of the INTESTINES. Absorption, Intestinal
D008982 Molybdenum A metallic element with the atomic symbol Mo, atomic number 42, and atomic weight 95.95. It is an essential trace element, being a component of the enzymes xanthine oxidase, aldehyde oxidase, and nitrate reductase. Molybdenum-98,Molybdenum 98
D004032 Diet Regular course of eating and drinking adopted by a person or animal. Diets
D005243 Feces Excrement from the INTESTINES, containing unabsorbed solids, waste products, secretions, and BACTERIA of the DIGESTIVE SYSTEM.
D005260 Female Females
D000818 Animals Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA. Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D012417 Rumen The first stomach of ruminants. It lies on the left side of the body, occupying the whole of the left side of the abdomen and even stretching across the median plane of the body to the right side. It is capacious, divided into an upper and a lower sac, each of which has a blind sac at its posterior extremity. The rumen is lined by mucous membrane containing no digestive glands, but mucus-secreting glands are present in large numbers. Coarse, partially chewed food is stored and churned in the rumen until the animal finds circumstances convenient for rumination. When this occurs, little balls of food are regurgitated through the esophagus into the mouth, and are subjected to a second more thorough mastication, swallowed, and passed on into other parts of the compound stomach. (From Black's Veterinary Dictionary, 17th ed) Rumens
D012756 Sheep Any of the ruminant mammals with curved horns in the genus Ovis, family Bovidae. They possess lachrymal grooves and interdigital glands, which are absent in GOATS. Ovis,Sheep, Dall,Dall Sheep,Ovis dalli
D013455 Sulfur An element that is a member of the chalcogen family. It has an atomic symbol S, atomic number 16, and atomic weight [32.059; 32.076]. It is found in the amino acids cysteine and methionine. Sulfur-16,Sulfur 16

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